Air Warfare Officers Graduate in Style
Air Commodore Rick Owen RAAF presents PLTOFF Kyle Newman with the Wellington Shire Council Leadership Trophy. Photo courtesy RAAF. (raaf8194170_0062).
On 29 May 2008 PLTOFFs Kyle Newman and Byron Wagstaff were presented their Air Warfare Officer (AWO) brevets at a ceremony held at the School of Air Warfare (SAW), RAAF East Sale, Victoria, Australia.
Their ‘wings’ were presented by AIR CDRE Rick Owen of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Air Combat Officer (ACO) brevets were also presented to the three RAAF students who had graduated on 131 Navigator Basic Course. The NZDF was represented at the parade by WGCDR Stu Brownlie (Air Adviser Canberra) along with the RNZN and RNZAF instructors and students from SAW.
The award of AWO wings represents the culmination of fifteen months of air navigation and warfare training, both on the ground, and in the Super King Air B350. During this lengthy period AWOs study various disciplines including air navigation techniques, air power, crew resource management, checklist operation, flight safety, navigation equipment and air traffic control communication requirements. Towards the end of the course, the students learn the art of tactical employment in a maritime environment together with utilising the aircraft for Search and Rescue.
In addition to receiving their ‘wings’ the two Kiwi students were presented with six of the seven course awards. The ‘Best Sportsman’ award eluded them on the day… it could be suggested that with the strong trans-Tasman rivalry that exists at the school, it was always going to be a tall order to achieve the sporting trophy, and ultimately a clean sweep!
Air Commodore Rick Owen presents PLTOFF Byron Wagstaff with the Dux of the Course Award. Photo courtesy RAAF. (raaf8194170_0078).
PLTOFF Newman was awarded the Wellington Shire Leadership Trophy for displaying the best leadership qualities throughout the course. He also received the BAE Systems – Highest Academic Assessment Award for achieving the highest overall mark in ground school. Ground School covered theory lectures in nineteen principal subject areas, with practical exercises and formal exams.
PLTOFF Wagstaff was awarded the BAE Systems – Best Practical Navigator Award as the student who achieved the highest overall mark for the flying phase of the course. He was also awarded the RNZAF Astrolabe Trophy for achieving the highest result by an RNZAF student, and the Hawker Pacific Air Navigation Trophy for overall Dux of the course.
PLTOFF Wagstaff also achieved an overall Distinction Pass for both academic assessment and flying assessment. His excellent results placed him in the top two percent of all RNZAF and RAAF navigator students to have graduated from the school. This achievement was recognised with the presentation of The Merton Sword of Honour. AVM W.H. Merton, CB, OBE, RAF, was Chief of Air Staff for the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 1954 to 1956. He donated his ceremonial sword and it became the Sword of Honour to the best all-round officer graduating from an ab-initio Pilot or Air Warfare Officer training course, with the emphasis on powers of leadership and officer qualities. The Merton Sword of Honour is only awarded to a graduate with exceptional results, and has been awarded only 34 times since 1955. It was last presented to a navigator in 1987.
Kyle and Byron will soon be posted to No. 5 Squadron where they will undertake conversion onto the P3-K Orion.